Package delivery systems and related methods

Abstract

Delivery systems for aerial vehicles include a plurality of securement straps configured to secure a package during flight of an aerial vehicle, at least one retaining strap, and a release mechanism. A proximal end region of each securement strap and a first end region of the at least one retaining strap are coupled to the aerial vehicle. A distal end region of each securement strap is coupled to the release mechanism such that when the release mechanism is actuated the release mechanism releases the distal end region of at least one securement strap of the plurality of securement straps, thereby delivering the package. The release mechanism remains coupled to a second end region of the at least one retaining strap when the release mechanism is actuated such that the securement straps, release mechanism, and retaining strap all may be pulled up and away from the package after delivery.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A delivery system for an aerial vehicle, the delivery system comprising:
 a plurality of securement straps configured to secure a package with respect to the aerial vehicle such that the package is supported during flight of the aerial vehicle, wherein each securement strap of the plurality of securement straps extends from a proximal end region to a distal end region, and wherein the proximal end region of each securement strap of the plurality of securement straps is coupled to the aerial vehicle; 
 at least one retaining strap, wherein a first end region of the at least one retaining strap is coupled to the aerial vehicle, and wherein a second end region of the at least one retaining strap is coupled to a release mechanism; and 
 the release mechanism, wherein the distal end region of each securement strap of the plurality of securement straps is coupled to the release mechanism, wherein the delivery system is configured such that when the release mechanism is actuated the release mechanism releases the distal end region of at least one securement strap of the plurality of securement straps, thereby delivering the package, and wherein the release mechanism is configured to remain coupled to the second end region of the at least one retaining strap when the release mechanism is actuated. 
 
     
     
       2. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivery system is configured such that when the release mechanism is actuated the release mechanism releases the distal end region of each securement strap of the plurality of securement straps. 
     
     
       3. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivery system is configured such that the release mechanism is passively actuated when the release mechanism contacts a delivery location surface on which the package is to be delivered. 
     
     
       4. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a spring-loaded button that actuates the release mechanism when a threshold force is applied to the spring-loaded button by contact between the spring-loaded button and a delivery location surface on which the package is to be delivered. 
     
     
       5. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivery system is configured to deliver a plurality of different sizes and shapes of packages. 
     
     
       6. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivery system is configured to release the package while the aerial vehicle remains at a height above a delivery location surface where the package is to be delivered, wherein the height is at least 10 feet above the delivery location surface. 
     
     
       7. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retractable line coupling each securement strap and the at least one retaining strap to the aerial vehicle, wherein the retractable line is configured to lower the plurality of securement straps and the at least one retaining strap away from the aerial vehicle towards a delivery location surface to deliver the package. 
     
     
       8. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism is positioned on or adjacent a bottom side of the package, and wherein the plurality of securement straps are positioned to extend along respective sides of the package and are joined together on the bottom side of the package via the release mechanism. 
     
     
       9. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerial vehicle is configured to lift away from a delivery location surface once the package has been delivered thereon, thereby pulling the plurality of securement straps, the at least one retaining strap, and the release mechanism away from the package and the delivery location surface. 
     
     
       10. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivery system is configured such that the plurality of securement straps, the at least one retaining strap, and the release mechanism are retracted into or against the aerial vehicle after the package is delivered. 
     
     
       11. The delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises one or more pins. 
     
     
       12. The delivery system according to  claim 11 , wherein the release mechanism is configured such that each pin of the one or more pins is retracted when the release mechanism is actuated, thereby releasing the distal end region of each securement strap of the plurality of securement straps from the release mechanism. 
     
     
       13. The delivery system according to  claim 12 , wherein the distal end region of each securement strap of the plurality of securement straps comprises a ring, wherein each respective ring is coupled to the release mechanism via a respective pin of the one or more pins extending through the respective ring. 
     
     
       14. An aerial vehicle comprising the delivery system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. A method for delivering a package via a delivery system for an aerial vehicle, the method comprising:
 securing the package with respect to the aerial vehicle via a plurality of securement straps, such that the package is supported during flight of the aerial vehicle; 
 positioning a release mechanism on or adjacent a lower side of the package, wherein the plurality of securement straps are coupled to the release mechanism, and wherein at least one retaining strap is coupled to the release mechanism; 
 causing the aerial vehicle to approach a delivery location surface; 
 lowering the package towards the delivery location surface while the aerial vehicle remains at a minimum predetermined height above the delivery location surface; and 
 automatically actuating the release mechanism when the release mechanism contacts the delivery location surface, wherein the release mechanism is configured to disengage the plurality of securement straps upon being actuated, thereby delivering the package by depositing the package on the delivery location surface. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising pre-securing a first end region of the at least one retaining strap to the aerial vehicle and pre-securing a second end region of the at least one retaining strap to the release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism is configured such that actuation of the release mechanism does not disengage the at least one retaining strap from the release mechanism. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the securing the package comprises positioning the package between the plurality of securement straps and the at least one retaining strap, and cinching the plurality of securement straps and the at least one retaining strap to tighten the securement straps and the at least one retaining strap around the package. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the automatically actuating the release mechanism comprises retracting one or more pins, thereby releasing the plurality of securement straps from the release mechanism by releasing a respective ring of each securement strap of the plurality of securement straps from a respective pin of the one or more pins, and wherein the release mechanism is configured to remain coupled to the at least one retaining strap after the release mechanism is actuated. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising lifting, winching, and/or retracting the plurality of securement straps, the at least one retaining strap, and the release mechanism away from the package after delivering the package on the delivery location surface. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the automatically actuating the release mechanism by contacting the delivery location surface with the release mechanism is performed without landing the aerial vehicle at or on the delivery location surface.